Mom and Dad Visit

This past week Mom and Dad came for a visit for a few days--always good for the soul. We didn't do anything overly exciting but I got to show off Bean's room and mom helped me with my new hobby--sewing with the new maching. :-). I always have fun eating fajitas and just hanging out with mom and dad. Good times and I appreciate them visiting!!


It was freezing the morning they left so here are some pictures of us shivering at the airport before they departed. Thanks again for coming!!!

Tim Pictures

Tim sent some more pictures...I love getting pictures from him so I share them with you too. Tim continues to do well--he is flying a great deal and has more hours in the month he has been there than he got in about 3 months at Columbus. He did mention that "the honeymoon is over". I'll include an "in his own words" post tomorrow (most of his e-mails go to work and I need to forward them home). Enjoy the pictures for now.

Pictures From Tim

Tim continues to do very very well. He sent some pictures....Enjoy.



This last one is a Flintstone inspired playhouse Saddam had built for his grandkids (no really, you can't make that stuff up!!)

Tim is doing well

Just a quick update on Tim. He has finished his local upgrade training, passed his checkride with flying colors and is over halfway to his first air medal. He will start with students on Monday. I imagine that will be challenging and rewarding--it'll be fun to hear what he has to say about that experience. He's been a great, well respected instructor here at Columbus and I know he'll do the same there. He is doing really really well and his outlook is very positive. I'm very proud of him!!! We get to talk on the phone about twice a week--he is able to call me when I am at work--which has been good for the soul. I'll post pictures when I get them from him. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

"Nesting" in progress

I have been working this weekend on getting Bean's closet ready. Previously it was completely empty (no rod or anything) and it was used to store suitcases and bags. Before:

Then I put in closet inserts and shelves and drawers. I may yet move the shelves around but I think it looks much better....and it's more useful :-)

The Baby's room is coming along:

Quick Picture

Tim sent another picture I wanted to share...Isn't he a HOTTIE???

Tim....in some of his own words

So far Tim has been able to call home and e-mail quite frequently (thankfully). He seems to be doing well. He is almost through MQT (local training to get him up to speed on local procedures before he takes students up). He seems to be enjoying the challenge of the flying and he seems to be enjoying seeing all of the places we have heard of in the news up close and personal. He has been flying quite a bit and he doesn't expect that to slow down for a while. It seems the thing he likes least is the living situation. As I said earlier he is living in a tent and apparently it is dirty everywhere. He has to walk quite a distance to go to the bathroom and that seems like the worst. I'm including some excerpts from his e-mails so you can hear from him in his own words.

FROM HIS FIRST DAY:
For your information. I live on Sather AB. That is where mu\y tent, and it is not kidding a tent with linolium floor a buck bed and a locker box and about 7 feet by 10 feet of living space. (I work at New Al Muthara AB). It is located a short walk from my tent. Imagine I am in prison but I have to walk 100 yards to the crapper and I shower about 300 yards away. Nothing is paved. Everywhere you walk on stone paths..... It rained this week so now it is wet and muddy and the water has no where to go so there are mud and brown water ditches everywhere. To get into the tent from the path, we have put crate boxes, a sandbag, and a think piece of plastic we found.

FROM EARLY THIS WEEK:
We are flying our you know what off. Got
10 hours already. Things are looking up. It will still be a long and
aggravating year in ways I do not think you could imagine unless you are
stationed here.

Baghdad is wet, muddy, disgusting and dirty. Flew over places you hear
about in the newspapers daily to take a peek. Been unreal to see the
battlespace from this perspective. Not saying I am dropping but flying
with Iraqis over the battlespace is something I will always remember.

we laugh everyday here until it hurts. some of us are soooo busy it is ridiculous. I get up at 545 am and I get home after working out every night around 1000 or so.

He was also able to send a couple of pictures. One I think is of his C-130 trip there and the other is his sleeping quarters....GLAMOUR!!!